LightBridge Forum - Difficult Behavior Strategies - Night restlessness
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| Author | Message |
|---|---|
| Valerie Petersen |
: 4
#1 03/29/2008 15:58 Night restlessness my mom lives with us - has ovarian cancer and is recieving chemo- currently influenza-a, very ill but getting better- waking up for hours in the middle of the night and doesn't want to be alone- calling for help.
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| Mindy Kim-Miller |
: 5
#2 03/30/2008 08:46 Re: Night restlessnessDear Valerie,
I know that caring for your mother during her illness is emotionally and physically challenging, especially since she is awakening in the middle of the night. So don’t forget to aside time to take care of yourself. If you haven’t already done so, try to find out why she is waking up at night. Ask her if she is in pain or needs something to help her get back to sleep. If she is upset, use a soft, relaxed tone of voice to reassure her that everything is alright and that everyone is safe. If she wakes up disoriented, help her reorient and remind her that it is time to sleep. She may just need to know that she is not alone and that someone is in the room with her. Perhaps she can learn some relaxation techniques to help her get back to sleep. Her nighttime restlessness may be a side effect of her chemotherapy or related to another medical issue. You should discuss this issue with her physicians, because it may be something that can be treated, or something that may resolve once she is done with her chemotherapy. In the meantime, if you are not getting enough rest, you should consider getting some help so that you can get some sleep. Perhaps you can ask other family members, close friends, or hire someone to stay with your mother during some nights so that you do not have to be the primary person dealing with her awakenings every night of the week. If nighttime help is not feasible, then consider getting some help during the daytime even for a couple of hours so that you can get some rest. You might find some of the LightBridge Tips for Improving Sleep helpful to your situation: http://www.lightbridgehealthcare.com/2884.xml. For example, you can try improving sleep hygiene by limiting daytime napping and caffeine intake, reducing disruptive environmental factors, and establishing a bedtime routine. You might also find aspects of the LightBridge article on sleep issues helpful: http://www.lightbridgehealthcare.com/2896.xml. I hope your mother’s health improves. Good luck. This information is not meant to be a substitute for medical advice, read more at: http://www.lightbridgehealthcare.com/2838.xml 10 of 11 people found this message useful. Do you?
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